I am so over hearing people simplify this major surgery by calling it a tool. My darling Dad, who died 2 weeks ago, had this surgery 30 years ago because he had a huge tumor in his stomach. I guess he was a test case for us fat people. He didn't choose to have 3/4 of his stomach removed like we do. He wasn't desperate to be thin or want to wear a bikini or want to be like his friends or have blood pressure or diabetes problems, he hade a healthy diet and exercise regime, he wasn't lazy or the hundred other reasons we all claim to be the best reasons in the world for us to have this surgery.

He had this surgery to save his life, if he didn't he would have died.

I had this surgery to save my life and I am so over this disrespectful simplification of this major life saving surgery by calling it a tool. A hammer, drill, screwdriver, saw and jackhammer are tools. This is major surgery! Calling it a tool just makes it seem like Weight-watchers or Jenny Craig for people who have no idea what they are getting themselves into.

For example, why don't we talk more about the fact that if you get bowel cancer after you have been sleeved you are doomed to die because we don't have any excess stomach to replace the cancerous part of our bowel. Oh. And should we get stomach cancer then say goodbye because we are all left with the minimum amount of stomach we need to live.

I don't want to be over-dramatic, but a TOOL, that's misleading and insulting.

It was not an intentional "false statement" (aka - a lie). I did not word my thoughts correctly, but I will be sure to do better in the future.

It was not an intentional "false statement" (aka - a lie). I did not word my thoughts correctly, but I will be sure to do better in the future.

Twenty lashes for you! Maybe your mind is just fuzzy because you're to busy being a b***h on your pre op and TOM! :D

If my children talk to each other they way some of you guys are, they'd be grounded.

Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

Twenty lashes for you! Maybe your mind is just fuzzy because you're to busy being a b***h on your pre op and TOM! :D

No kidding! Shame on me.

If that's the case, why can't I find anyone who has done that?

I don't think you are going to find them on this group, because most people are here because they want to keep the weight off and succeed after surgery. There is a steep drop-off rate on this board as time goes by post-op. I would guess there are less than 15 people who are more than two years out.

Here are some articles that support the fact that weight gain is possible:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Fitness/story?id=4444057&page=1#.UYgaNbXbN8E

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856611/

Aussielady I am so sorry to hear about your dad! I'm very close to mine and it sounds like you we're to yours and I don't know how I would handle losing mine. My thoughts are with you.

As far as the tool thing, I don't like the term either but I get why it's used. It kind if irks me too in that it does seem to make light of a very serious way to lose weight.

So sorry for the loss of your father - but it is in fact a tool. It doesn't do the work by itself. It needs human interaction to be successful.

Your father, may he rest peacefully - had a different situation.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

And, I've actually taken to calling him Sleeve Perry, not Tool.

Don't Stop Believing!

We need to find another word for it, I hate calling it a tool but people who know I have the surgery feel its just a magic cure. I was 322 begining of january of this year I am 250 today, i work out and run 3-5 days a week and struggle with the mental talk to keep myself motivated. Being called a tool simplifies what in actuallity is a huge life changer and possibly fatal. I am sorry for your loss hopefully we can find a word that suits our situation.

I would like to echo your sentiment. It's such a tired cliche I'm sick of listening too for people who need reassurance that what they are doing is OK.

I'm also sick of "its not the easy way out" - bullshit. I'm not saying its "easy" but its certainly easier than following these types of diet restrictions without surgery. It's patronizing, and frankly, most of us are adults and should be over this type of thing.

As for stomach and bowel cancer - I'm not sure that what you said is completely accurate, some parts of the bowel can be removed without taking from the stomach but it is true that if you require extensive grafting you would be SOL.

I don't think you are going to find them on this group' date=' because most people are here because they want to keep the weight off and succeed after surgery. There is a steep drop-off rate on this board as time goes by post-op. I would guess there are less than 15 people who are more than two years out.

Here are some articles that support the fact that weight gain is possible:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Fitness/story?id=4444057&page=1#.UYgaNbXbN8E

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856611/

20% long term failure rate?! Holy sh@t! Thanks for posting. I gotta figure out my portions when I travel!

I choose to live my life without too many "what ifs." Instead, I try to look at my life NOW. For me, since I have the LapBand and it's started giving me some serious issues, having the sleeve is a NOW choice. Right NOW, I'm not sleeping well due to all the coughing and gurgling at night, right NOW, I don't know what I can eat or even if I can eat (sometimes even Water comes back up)...right NOW, I'm pretty miserable on a day to day basis.

Also, right NOW, I feel too fat for my clothes and I'm not happy with my weight. Since the band has to come out, it makes a lot of sense to go ahead and convert to a sleeve.

Sure, I can say What if I get stomach or colon cancer? What if I die during surgery? What if I have complications? But if I'm willing to play that game, it opens up all sorts of What Ifs? What if I drive my car and get in an accident? What if I gain more weight and have a heart attack? What if I develop diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure? What if I stay overweight and develop knee problems? What if I continue to gain weight and stop doing the things I love to do?

I'm not saying to make this decision lightly...but we already KNOW that obesity brings with it an entire truck load of health problems. Those are KNOWN risk factors and they kill people every day...probably every minute, every day. Could I die having surgery? Sure. Could there be complications later down the road? Sure.

But again, I could die from a car accident later today. I could have the sleeve done, lose all the weight, and die from brain cancer in 2 yrs. We do NOT know what life has in store for us...so in my opinion, do what you need to do NOW to live a healthier, happier, fuller life because we honestly *can't* know what tomorrow brings.

20% long term failure rate?! Holy sh@t! Thanks for posting. I gotta figure out my portions when I travel!

Keep in mind the study quoted in this report was RNY patients. In no way can VSG patients be compared. The surgeries are absolutely different.

OK here's one more that is specific to VSG:

http://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(11)00579-X/abstract?elsca1=etoc&elsca2=email&elsca3=1550-7289_201211_8_6&elsca4=elsevier

Lynda

Here is a new thread started by someone who has regained everything:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79240-need-guidance-vsg-to-ds/